LEGACY GIVING
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Matthew 19:21 (NIV)
I recently spoke at a camp and saw a monument of some of the key givers who had made this camp a reality. That weekend, I spoke to over a hundred kids who said yes to Jesus, and what struck me was how many kids in the space have said yes to Jesus over the years. A thin place is where heaven and earth meet, where God’s presence shows up in a unique way. That camp was a thin place that weekend, where God moved in a mighty way. The truth is most people give the camp directors, speaker or band most of the credit for how God moved, but this thought struck me all weekend: this wouldn’t have been possible without some legacy givers. Many of the givers have already passed on and are with Jesus, but their investment still lives on. I could only use my gift because they gave of their gifts first.
While the passage above is directed to the rich young ruler and speaks about his love for money, the principle Jesus gives is for everyone. Your resources have a chance to outlive you. We talk a lot about depreciating assets in our culture; the best investment, Jesus says, is into the church, into His kingdom. The people who gave still impact people’s lives because of their generosity. The church will outlive every one of us. Jesus says that He will build His church, and the gates of hell won’t stand. This is the key: any church that is Jesus’ church will live on long after a building fades. The lives that are touched, the people who are served, and the freedom that is found all come from Jesus, but it’s possible because people decided to be legacy givers. People chose to invest in something that would outlast them and impact the generations to come. It’s not selfish to try and get the best bang for your buck. Jesus wants you to steward your resources well, but Jesus is clear: people need to stop thinking short-sighted and think of eternal investments. He reminds us there is a better way to give. He invites us to be legacy givers.
APPLICATION:
You can’t outgive a generous God. Store up your treasures in heaven.
PRAYER:
Spend some time thanking God for the people who have given sacrificially to the church where you accepted Christ. Thank Him for the legacy givers that have marked your life. Ask Him to help you see generosity as a way to impact the world for Christ.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?